Game apparatus



Nov; 12,-1940. J; c A R 2,221,645 r GAME AAAAAAA US Filed Feb. 17, 19369 S heets-Sheet 1 2 Nov. 12,- 1940. McMASTER 2,221,645

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 S heets-Sheet 3 J.M MASTER GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1936 v/ Alb Nov. 12, 1940. A, JMCM'ASTE 2,221,645

1 4 GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17; 1936 9 "SheetsSheet 4 Nov. 12, 1940 A.J. MMASTER GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 GAMEAPPARATI'JS Filed Feb. 17, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. J. M MASTER GAMEAPPARATUS Nov. 12, 1940.

Filed Feb. 1'7, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Wax/a7 KMZ/JW NOV. 12, 1940.McMASTER 2,221,645

GAME APPARATUS- Filed Feb. 17, 1936 .9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Nov. 12, 1940. vMcMASTER 2,221,645

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 ia/x/ A,

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNETED STATES GAME APPARATUS Archie J.- McMaster,Highland Park, Ill., assignor to G-M Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111.,a. corporation of Illinois Application February 17, 1936, Serial No.64,235

6 Ciaims.

The present invention relates generally to games for the amusement ofthe players and to apparatus therefor. It relates, also, to coincontrolled amusement and vending apparatus.

The present invention concerns a new, novel and entertaining game to beplayed with coins, checks or. tokens having distinguishing numbers,dates, legends or symbols thereon and with apparatus for selecting atrandom some particular identifying character; the object of the gamebeing to deliberately select a coin, check or token having the sameidentifying character as is selected at random by the machine whereby tomatch the coin check or token with the selection of the machine.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedgame and apparatus for playing the same.

A further object consists in providing improved means by which a playerfor the purpose of playing the game conveniently, easily, deliberatelyand overtly may indicate his guess or prediction as to what selectionwill be made by the random operation of the machine.

A further obect is the provision of an improved coin controlled gameapparatus and of an improved vending and amusement device.

A further object is the provision of improved game apparatus forreceiving a coin check or token and displaying its identifying characterto the view of the player, and for making a random selection of oneidentifying character from a number thereof and displaying the same forcomparison with that of the coin, check or token.

A further object is the provision of means for illuminating the machinewhile the same is in use to aid and improve the View thereof by theplayer.

A further object is the provision of means controlled by the playerhimself for illuminating the displays and for removing the coin, checkor token from view after its inspection by the player and comparisonwith the random selection made by the machine itself to determinewhether or not the matching of the two has been accomplished.

These and other objects and advantages of my present invention willappear as the description proceeds.

My present invention in one embodiment thereof, comprises a wheeladapted to be spun and then to be stopped at random in one of a numberof ,pre-determined rotated positions. In each of the positions in whichthe wheel may 55 stop, it exposes to view and indicates to the player acharacter which includes the number of some year such as for example thenumber 936. The players prediction of the random selection to be made bythe wheel is indicated by the date on the coin which he has insertedinto the machine.

It, also, includes mechanism for spinning said wheel and for bringing itto a registered stop. It further includes coin controlled mechanismwhich permits the wheel to be spun only when a coin has been inserted inthe machine. Confections or the like, also, are dispensed under controlof the coin mechanism.

The apparatus of my present invention ineludes, also, improved means forexposing the 15 identifying character of the check, token or coin to theview of the player, such as, for example, a magnifying glass forenlarging the appearance of the check or token and a battery operatedelectric light for illuminating the same, said light being controlled bya switch operated as an incident of the players operation of theapparatus.

The apparatus of my present invention further provides means for placingthe token, check or coin in close proximity to the indicator or displayelement of the apparatus itself so as to permit comparison of the two tobe made ata glance.

Preferably the power required for operating this mechanism of myimproved apparatus is furnished mechanically by the player himself byactuating a lever or the like, although self contained mechanical orelectrical actuators controlled by the player, also, are contemplated.

In order to conserve the life of the batteries which operate the lightalready mentioned, the switch controlling the light preferably isarranged to disconnect the lamp whenever the actuating or control leveroccupies its normal position, that is the position which it assumes whenreleased by the player, and to connect the lamp to the battery wheneverthe lever is moved out of this rest position. Furthermore, according toone aspect of my present invention, the light is turned on byconsiderably less motion of the operating handle or lever than isrequired for actuating the spinning indicating and selecting wheel orfor performing any other function which may be required of the lever.

This permits the player at all times to illuminate the token or check inthe apparatus and, also, the random indicator. of the apparatus, itself,While permitting the light to be left off when not required and when theapparatus is not in use so as to conserve and preserve the battery.

My invention further contemplates the provision of means operated by thelever which serves to advance the checks or tokens which are insertedinto the machine from one position to another within the machine itselfand to ad- Vance the checks or tokens intoand out of the view of theplayer. My present invention further contemplates that the movement ofthe checks or tokens within the machine and the operation of the randomindicating wheel all shall be accomplished by the same motion of theoperating lever in such manner that the player cannot after making aplay actuate one without actuating the other, also.

In order better to acquaint those skilled in the art with the teachingsand practice of my present invention, I now shall describe a specificembodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. l is a general view in perspective of the exterior of a coincontrolled amusement and vending machine embodying my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a general view in perspective of a part of the interiormechanism of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another general View in perspective but from a different angleof the same apparatus as is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of an electric circuit.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the device of Fig. 1 looking towardthe left in Fig. 1 so as to provide a general view of a portion of theinterior of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 lookingtoward the right in Fig. 1 and showing in section the apparatus fordelivering to the purchaser the article vended by the machine.

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line l'l of Fig. 6 in the directionindicated by the arrows so as to view the apparatus from above.

Fig. 8 is a section through the coin apparatus in which the parts areshown in their normal position. It is a section taken along the line 8 8of Fig. 10.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in adifferent operated position. It is a section taken along the line Ei-9of Fig. 11.

Fig. 10 is a section taken along the line lt-!ll of Fig. 8, showing theparts in the same positions as they occupy in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line i l--! i of Fig. 9, showingthe parts in the same positions as they occupy in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a section taken along the line i2-i2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown inperspective in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 14 is a section taken along the line i i-l4 of Fig. 13.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a decorative metalenclosing case comprising a pair of end panels H and I2 and a formedmetal sleeve I3. Mounted on top of the enclosing case and secured to thesleeve [3 thereof is a casting I i having a hollow therein adapted toreceive a check, token, coin or the like. At the bottom of the hollow ofthe casting HP. is a slot l5 in the sleeve l3 through which the coin orcheck may fall into the interior of the enclosing case. J ournaled inthe end plate I2 is a handle or lever l8 adapted to be depressed by theplayer or ur chaser after the insertion of his check, token or coin tooperate the machine. Operation of the machine by means of the handle l8causes the coin to appear in view behind a lens H. The same operation ofthe machine, also, causes the machine to make a random selection whichis indicated at an opening !9 through which the player may view or readthe indication which the machine gives to reveal its own randomselection. The purchaser obtains his confection or other vended articleby pressing a plunger i9 which causes the purchased article to bedelivered into a pocket 20 at the front of the inclosing case from whichhe may take it.

The space immediately surrounding the opening IS in the sleeve I3 isinclosed by a decorative frame 2! which is adapted to receive a nameplate or a card of instructions or other descriptive matter. A key-lock,the key-hole of which is shown at 23, is provided for locking themachine in its assembled condition.

By unlocking the key-lock the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3,including the end plate l2, may be separated from the rest of theapparatus by withdrawing it from the sleeve l3. The unit assembly shownin Figs. 2 and 3 includes the entire mechanism except the vendingapparatus which remains with the end plate H and sleeve I3. The key-lockis shown at 25 in Fig. 3. The element with which the lock 25 engages isattached to the sleeve l3 and is not shown.

As best may be seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the lever 18 of Fig. 1 is securedto a shaft 2'5 which in turn carries a lever 28 which actuates a wheel30 through a spring snap mechanism and an overrunning clutch mechanism.The snap mechanism and the details of its construction and operation aremore completely described in the copending application of Karl E.Sommermeyer, Ser. No. 62,165, filed Feb. 3, 1936. The overrunning clutchmechanism and the wheel 30 are carried on a fixed shaft 3! and thedriving member 5! of the over-running clutch mechanism includes an arm32 which turns about the shaft 3!. The lever 28 in the position in whichit is shown in Fig. 5, stops against the hub of the arm 32 and inanother position it stops against the bottom of the inclosing case. Thearm 32 carries a pin Mi having a head 4! which is adapted to engage apair of bosses 35 and 36 shown in section in Fig. 5 which project fromthe end plate l2 as shown in Fig. 3 and act as stops for the arm 32. Thearm 28 has pivoted thereto at a pin 3'1, a cross piece or spreader 38. Aspreader 39, also, is pivoted to the arm 32 by means of the pin 88; anda pair of springs 43 and M are tensioned between these spreaders. Thelevers and 32 together with the springs 43 and m and their spreaders 38and 39 constitute the snap mechanism. The use of the two springs 43 and4 with the two spreaders 38 and 39 serves to permit the line of actionof the springs, which passes through pins 3? and 40, to cross the axisof shaft 3i Without requiring the shaft to be severed to permit a springto pass therethrough. The spreader 39, also, constitutes a part of alatch mechanism for preventing operation of the wheel 38 when no coinhas been inserted in the machine; and for that purpose it is providedwith a notch 45 near its upper end which engages a latch piece 46. Theoperation of this latch will be explained presently.

The snap mechanism operates as follows: The

Springs 43 and 44 normauy hold the levers 32 and 28 in the positions inwhich they are shown in Fig. 5. When the lever I8 (see Figs. 1 and 2) isdepressed, it rotates the shaft 21' in a counterclock-wise direction asviewed in Fig. 5 causing the lever 28 to move down through an are suchas to increase the distance between the pins 3'! and 46 so as toincrease the tension of the springs 43 and 46. As the pin 3'! movesdown, the line of action of the springs, that is, the line between thepins 3'! and 46, crosses the axis of the shaft 3| so that the springstend to rotate the lever or arm 32 in a clock-wise direction about theshaft 3|. The arm 32 thereupon rotates with a snap action until it stopsagainst the boss 36. Because of the particular location of the boss 36with respect to the levers 2B and 32, the line of action of the springsnever crosses the axis of the shaft 21. Therefore, the springs continueto urge the lever 26 toward the position shown in Fig. 5. When the lever28 is permitted to return to that position, the line between the pins 31and 46 again crossesthe axis of the shaft 3| causing the arm 32 to snapback to the position shown in Fig. 5 where it stops against the boss 35.The foregoing description of the operation of the snap mechanism assumesthat the coin controlled latch including the latch piece 66 previouslyreferred to, was disengaged. If no coin were inserted in the machine,the spreader 39 would be caught by the latch piece 46 so as to preventthe arm 32 from moving out of the 7 position shown in Fig. 5.

The construction of the over-running clutch mechanism and its drivingconnection with the wheel 36, as well as the mechanism for bringing thewheel to a registered random stop, is more completely described in theco-pending application of Walter Van Guilder, Ser. No. 62,164, filedFeb. 3, 1936.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 13 and 14, the overrunning clutch mechanismincludes the housing 5| which constitutes the driving member of theclutch and which includes the arm 32 already referred to. A drivenmember of the clutch 52 comprises a plate portion 53 and a bushingportion 54. The plate portion 53 is adapted to make driving engagementwith the driving member 5| by means of a pair of steel balls 55 when thearm 32 rotates in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. When thearm 32 rotates in a counterclock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 theballs 55 act to release the driving engagement. The wheel 36 is mountedon a hub 59 which turns freely on the bushing portion 54 of the drivenmember 52 of the clutch.

Pivotally secured to the web of the wheel 36 are a pair of weights 66and 6| which are linked together by means of a tie bar 62 sothat theymove together and are always symmetrically disposed with respect to thecenter of the wheeel 36. The weights 66 and 61 are provided with springtoggles 65 and 66 which serve continually to urge these weights in adirection which brings their centers of gravity near the center of thewheel 36. These spring toggles 65 and 66 are so arranged that when thecenters of gravity of the weights 66 and 6| are at their maximumdistances from the center of the wheel 36 (in which position the weightsbear against the inner surface of the rim of the wheel 36), the toggles65 and 66 exert a comparatively small effort on the weights 66 and 61 sothat a comparatively slight centrifugal force will be sufficient to holdthem in that position against the force of the spring toggles.'I'heweight 66 carries a dog 61 which is adapted to engage teeth 68 onthe periphery of a wheel 69 secured to the shaft 3| in such a manner asto prevent rotation thereon.

The dog 61 normally is held in engagement 5 with the wheel 69 by thespring toggles 65 and 66.

The wheel 36 carries on its periphery a series of numbers or characterswhich constitute the numbers of years. Each one of the characterscorresponds to one of the notches 68 of the 10 notched member 69, andeach of the notches 66, when the dog 61 is seated therein brings one ofthe characters squarely into register in the center of the opening 13 inthe panel 12 (see Fig. 2) where it may be viewed through the opening 15or window l9 in the sleeve l3 of the enclosing case (see Fig. 1).

The driven member 52 of the over-running clutch mechanism carries a pin16 which extends through a clearance hole in the web of the wheel 36 toengage a hole in the center of the tie bar 62. This pin 16 is the onlydriving connection between the member 52 of the over-running clutch andthe wheel 36.

When the arm 32 of the over-running clutch snaps in a clock-wisedirection as viewed in Fig. 5 in the manner already described, it drivesthe member 52 of the clutch with it, which in turn through the pin 16drives against the tie bar 62 tending to rotate it about the shaft 3| ina counterclock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 13. The driving forceexerted on the tie bar 62 is resisted by the inertia of the wheel 36 sothat the initial driving action disengages the dog 61 from the notchedmember 69 and moves the weights 35 66 and 6! out against the rim of thewheel 36. The wheel 36 is accelerated from the very beginning of themotion of the arm 32 and continues to accelerate until the arm 32 stopsagainst the boss 36 (see Fig. 5). As soon as the arm 32 and the drivingmember 51 of the clutch stop, the balls 55 thereof release the member 52so that the member 52 together with the wheel 36 continue to rotate. Therotation is retarded only by friction and after a time, the wheeldecelerates to such a speed that centrifugal force no longer holds theweights 66 and 6! out against the rim of the wheel 36. Thereupon thespring toggles 65 and 66 bring the dog 61 sharply into engagement withthe teeth 68 of the member 69 so that the dog 6! clicks over the notchesand quickly brings the wheel to a stop. The dog 6! seats itself into oneof the notches 68 so as to bring the wheel 36 to a stop accuratelyregistered in a position corresponding to one of the notches 68. Thisbrings one of the numbers which constitute the design on the peripheryof the wheel 36 into register in the center of an opening 13 (shown inFig. 2) in the panel 12.

The mechanism just described cooperates with certain coin controlledmechanism which receives and handles the coins and controls the latchpiece 46. This latter mechanism is more fully described in the copendingapplication of Walter Van Guilder and Karl H. Sommermeyer Ser. No.67,842, filed March 9, 1936.

The panel l2 has secured thereto near the top thereof a metal channelpiece 15 which co-operates therewith to form a groove or channel for apair of coin detecting slides 11 and 18 (see Figs. 70 8, 9, 10, 11 and12). Of these, slide 11 has a pin 19 extending through a slot in thechannel 15 for engagement with slotted arm 86 which drives it (see,also, Fig. 3).

Referring to Fig. 3, a lever 92secured to the shaft 2'! rotatestherewith. A link 93 connects this lever 92 with another lever 94 whichis carried on a pivot having the same axis as the lever 80. The link 93has a slotted connection with the lever 9'3 so as to permit a certainamount of motion of the hand lever I8 and the shaft 21 to take placebefore the coin mechanism begins to operate. A projection 95 of thelever 94 engages the lever 8i] to drive the same.

The arrangement of the cam 95 with respect to the lever ii!) is suchthat the cam 85 drives the lever 80 only in one direction. That is, whenthe lever I8 (Fig. 1) is depressed, the lever 80 and the slide Tl aredriven toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3, and towards the right asviewed in Figs. 8, 9 and 12. A spring BI attached to the lever 80provides the effort for the return motion of the slide TI. This spring,also, normally retains the slide ll in the position in which it is shownin Figs. 8 and 12. The slide 'I'I lies behind an opening in the panel(see Figs. 3 and 12 adapted to receive coins from the opening I5 in thesleeve I3 of the enclosing case (see Fig. 1).

The slide 'Il, also, carries a projection 83 on its forward face. Thisprojection 83, the coin receiving space and the slide l8 are inalignment. The projection 83 is adapted to move towards the right asviewed in Figs. 8, 9 and 12 to crowd the coin against the end of theslide I8 and thereby to drive the slide I8 towards the right as viewedin Figs. 8, 9 and 12. The end of the slide I8 which faces the projection83 is cut off at an angle and thereby is adapted to engage a coinbetween it and the projection 83 so as to urge the coin downward into acoin trap 9I, the opening into which is offset toward the right in Figs.8 and 9 from the opening 86.

The slide E8 normally obstructs the opening from the channel carryingthe slides l! and 78 into the coin trap 9i so that a coin must drive theslide '56 to the right (as seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 12) in order to passinto the coin trap 9|. The spacing between the projection 83 of theslide l3 and the left end of the slide I3 as viewed in Fig. 8 is solarge and the limits of travel of two slides is such that projection 83never can engage slide it. Consequently, slide 18 cannot be driven tothe right as viewed in Fig. 8 unless a coin is in place as shown in Fig.8, but will be so driven when a coin is in place.

The extreme right end of the slide It as viewed in Fig. 12, is offset asshown at 8 3 in Fig. 12 to receive a spring 85 and for carrying thelatch piece 55. Latch piece it already has been mentioned in connectionwith the driving mechanism for the wheel 38 and its operation will bedescribed presently. The spring 85 normally holds :ie slide '33 in theposition in which it is shown in Figs. 8 and 12, in which position theoff-set portion d l stops against the end of the channel piece l5 as maybe seen in Fig. 12.

A shaft Iifi carries a curved arm Ill which preferably is formedintegrally therewith. A spring l 53 holds the arm H I in firm engagementwith a roller H2 carried by the pin 40 of the arm 32. The curvature ofthe arm III is such that the shaft file executes a counterclock-wiserotation (Fig. 5) when the arm 32 snaps down to spin the wheel til. Thisshaft III) operates a pin at which works in the coin trap BI, a catch 52B for the lever 88, and a lever I45 for controlling the confectiondispensing mechanism.

Depending from the coin trap 91 is a hinged chute ml which is adapted toguide a coin into position behind an opening I02 in the panel 12 whereit is supported upon projections I03 and I534 and where it may be viewedby the player. This chute IIlI carries a pair of arms I05 and 536 whichare adapted to be engaged by the arm 89 carrying the pin 95 and by thecam 95 of the lever 95 respectively for closing the chute IIII byholding it against the panel I2 so as to retain the coin in view in theopening I02. When the apparatus is in its normal position as shown inFigs. 3 and 10, the cam 95 of the lever 94 engages arm I85 to hold thechute IUI closed. A spring it? tends to hold the chute IllI away fromthe panel l2 so as to permit the coin to escape therefrom.

The pin 90 which is carried by the shaft III] and the arm 89, normallyextends into the coin trap 9i to obstruct the passage of coinstherethrough; and it is adapted to be withdrawn from the coin trap topermit free passage of coins when the arm 32 of the snap mechanism snapsdown to spin the wheel 30. When the arm 89 withdraws the pin 99 f'romthecoin trap 9I, it engages the arm m5 to close the chute WI.

The catch I23 is adapted to block the return motion of the arm all andthe slide ll when the arm 32 is in its down position and resting againstthe boss 36.

The latch already referred to, which restrains the motion .of the snapmechanism which drives the wheel it consists of the latch piece 46carried by the slide ll of the spreader 39. As may be seen in Fig. 5,the points of fastening of the springs 43 and M to the spreader 38 donot lie on a straight line through the pin 31, but rather lie on a linepassing to the right of pin 3] as seen in Fig. 5. That is, it passesbetween the pins ST and ll). Similarly the points of fastening of thesame springs to the spreader 39lie on a line which passes between thepin 40- and pin 31. This arrangement causes the springs 43 and 4.4 totend always to hold the spreaders 38 and 39 in positions substantiallyperpendicular to the line through the pivots 31 and 40. Consequently,when the lever 28 carries the pivot 31 down, the spreader 39 tends torotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 about itspivot ill but is prevented from doing so by its engagement with thelatch piece it. In this position, the spreader 39 is hooked over thelatch piece It so as to prevent the arm 32 of the over-running clutchfrom moving away from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5.

This mechanism for handling and detecting the presence of the coin orsimilar piece and for locking the snap mechanism, operates as follows:Assume thatv a coin has been inserted through the opening. 815 so thatit lies between the end of the. slide 78' and the projection Men theslide 'I'I in the channel formed by the piece I5. When the hand lever I8is depressed the arm 28 moves downward to tension the springs 43 and M;and the arm 9 also, moves downward to move the slider ll toward theright in Fig. 8. As the slider l7 moves toward the right in Fig. 8,.itsprojection 83 moves the coin towards the right until the coin engagesthe end of the slider I8. Continued motion of the arm I8 moves theslider I8 towards the right (as seen in Fig. 8), so as to move the latchpiece 46 towards the left as viewed in Fig. 3 so that it slips out ofthe notch of the spreader 39. This immediately releases the spreader 39and permits it to assume a position perpendicular to the line throughthe pivots 31. and 40. Inasmuch as at the time this takes place, the

pivot 31 will be much lower than itis'shown in Fig. 5, this causes thespreader 39 to rotate counterclock-wise as viewed in Fig. 5. At aboutthis same time, or slightly later, the slide 'I'I moves the. coin overthe opening into the coin trap 9| whereupon the coin is forced into thetrap 9| by the slider I8 and its spring 85. This causes the latch piece43 to move towards the right as viewed in Fig. 3 so that it stopsagainst the side of the spreader 39. However, inasmuch as the spreaderalready has rotated counterclock-wise from the normal position in whichit is shown in Fig. 5, the latch piece 46 does not re-enter the notch ofthe spreader 39.

If new the handle I8 is released, the arm 28 will carry the pivot 31back to the position of Fig. 5 but the spreader 39 will be unable toassume the position shown for it in Fig. 5 because it will be preventedfrom rotating to that position by the projection 41 of the latch piece46. In this condition of the apparatus, the coin rests on the pin in thecoin trap 9!, and the operation of the snap mechanism which drives thewheel 30 is no longer blocked. In other words, the operation of thehandle I8 sufficient to bring the coin into the coin trap 9| hasunlocked the snap mechanism. The release of the handle I8 at this pointdoes not interfere with the correct operation of the machine. If thehandle I8 now is carried to its extreme low position the snap mechanismwill move the arm 32 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5down to a position in which it rests against the boss 36. This sets thewheel 30 into motion in the manner which already has been described, andit rotates the shaft H0 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFig. 5 due to the engagement with the curved arm III of the rollercarried by the arm 32. This motion of the shaft IIO withdraws the pin 90from the coin trap 9| so as to permit the coin to fall into the chuteIOI. The pin 90, as it is withdrawn, engages the extension I05 of thechute ml and moves the same against the panel 12 so that the coinreleased by the pin 90 is caught on the projections I03 and I04 and heldin the opening 13 where it may be viewed by the player.

The rotation of the shaft I I0, also, has brought the catch I20 (seeFigs. 10 and 11) into engagement with the lever 80 so as to prevent thereturn of the slide 11 (see Fig. 8) towards the left. This operation ofthe shaft I II], also, has lifted a catch H6 to operate the vendingmechanism in a manner which will be described more in detail presently.

When the handle I8 (and with it the lever 28) is permitted to returntowards normal position, it moves the lever 94 back toward the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 3, but the lever 80 is held temporarily inits operated position by the latch I20. The return motion of the lever94 towards its normal position brings the cam into engagement with theprojection I06 of the chute IM to hold this chute closed to retain thecoin in view in the opening I02. As the arm 28 approaches its normalposition which is shown in Fig. 5, the arm 32snaps back to the positionshown in Fig. 5 and in so doing permits the arm III to return to itsnormal position, also, shown in Fig. 5 so as to release the catch I20which is holding lever 80. This permits the slide TI to return to itsnormal position. This action of the latch I20 and slide 'I'I serves toprevent a second coin from being inserted without again spinning thewheel 30,

' The spreader 39 just prior to the return of the arm 32 to its normalposition is rotated slightly in a clock-wise direction from the positionshown in Fig. 5 due to the action of the springs 43 and M alreadydescribed. As the arm 32 returns to its normal position it carries thespreader 39 with it and the spreader 39 rotates counterclock-.

wise as it rises with the arm 32. Consequently the left edge of thespreader 39 (the edge having the notch) is brought into engagement withthe end of the latch piece 66 and as the arm 32 comes to rest, the notchin the spreader 39 slips over the latch piece MB.

This leaves the apparatus again in its normal position with the coin inview behind the opening I02. If now the arm I8 is depressed with orwithout the insertion of an additional coin the initial motion of thelever 94 causes the cam 95 to release the chute IIII so that the coinmay drop therefrom into a coin pan I22 located below it.

On the front of the panel I2 is an electric lamp I25 so located that itwill illuminate both the coin on display in the opening I 02 and thenumbers on the periphery of the wheel 39 which are in view through theopening l0. One terminal of this lamp is grounded to the metal of thepanel I2. The other terminal carries a wire which runs to one terminalof the dry cell battery I26. Av

wire extends from the other terminal of the battery I26 to one terminalof a switch I2I which is adapted to be operated by a cam I23 carried bythe shaft 27. The other terminal of the switch is grounded to theapparatus. The switch I2'I is normally open so that the lamp isde-energized when the apparatus is in the normal position in which it isshown in Figs. 3 and 5. The cam I28 is arranged to close the contacts I2? in response to the initial motion of the hand lever I6 from itsnormal position and to keep the contact I2? closed until the handleagain returns to its normal position. The slot in the link 93 permitsthis initial motion to be made for turning on the light withoutoperating the lever 99 to discharge the coin from its display positionwithin the opening I02. The circuit connections for the lamp are showndiagrammatically in Fig. 4.

The mechanism for delivering the confection or other article to thepurchaser is illustrated best in Figs. 6 and 7. A partition I3I servesto form a hopper for the storage of confection or the like in the leftend of the apparatus asviewed in Fig. 1. Preferably the confection is inthe form of balls to permit it to be handled easily by simple equipment.Located below the hopper is a casting I32 which has a passage openinginto the bottom of the hopper near the rear portion thereof and which isof such size as to conduct balls from the hopper in single file as shownin the sectional View of Fig. 7. The balls within the passage of thecasting I32, rest upon a plate I33 which slides on pins or rivets I34. Aspring I35 holds this plate normally forward. In the position in whichit is shown in the drawings, the plate I33 is in its extreme forwardposition so as to bring an extruded hole I3! therein in register withthe curved forward end of the passageway in the casting I32 (see Fig.7). In this position, a ball may enter the opening I31 and rest on aprojection or stop I38 with its top surface approximately level with thetop surface of the plate I33. With the apparatus in this condition, thepurchaser may press the plunger I9 which moves the plate I33 back sothatthe ball I39 drops off the projection I 38 and is delivered in thedelivery spout 23. As the plate I33 is pushed back, the catch I I6already described falls into position to engage a projection I42 of theplate 133 so as to retain the plate in that position. In this position,the opening I37 in the plate I33 is out of register wtih the passage-waywithin the casting I32 so that another ball may not enter the same.

A subsequent operation of the apparatus including the insertion of acoin and the operation of the lever I3 to again actuate the shaft IIO,will again cause the catch M6 to rise so as to release the plate I33 andallow it to move under the action of the spring I35 to its forwardposition where another ball will fall into the opening I37 ready to bedelivered when the plunger H9 is pressed.

The arm M5 of the shaft H0 does not directly lift the catch IIIS sinceif it did so it would prevent the catch I it from holding the plate 33if the plunger should be pressed with the handle I8 held in itsdepressed position. The arm I 55 loosely carries a weight Hi3 which isof such di mension that the arm may not drive the catch IIStherethrough. The weight I43 is adapted to be thrown up by the arm I 15so that it strikes against the catch IIG causing the catch M3 to riseand disengage the projection I 22 of the plate I33. The plate I33immediately snaps to the right (See Fig. 6) under force of the springI35 and the catch IIG drops and rests on the projection I 82 as shown,ready again to latch the plate I33 when it is forced back by the plungerIn order to prevent the machine from receiving coins after the supply ofconfections is exhausted from the hopper, a wire feeler I51 extendsthrough the partition I3I into the passage-Way in the casting I32, andextends over the opening in the plate I33. A cam. I 50 riveted to theplate I33 is adapted to lift the wire feeler I5! up to the top of thepassage-way when the plate I33 is in its forward position as shown inFig. 6 so as not to obstruct the movement of the balls. When the plungerI9 is pressed in to move the plate I33 back so as to deliver one of theballs, the cam I50 leaves the wire feeler I5I and permits it to fall. Ifany balls remain in the passage-way in the casting I32 the wire I5Irests on them, but if no balls are in the passage-way the wire I5I dropsuntil it rests on the cam I53. The wire IEI when in this position, lieslower in the passage-way than it does when resting on the balls. Thewire IEI is carried on a pivot I55 having a horizontal axis and mountedon the partition I3I. The wire I5I has rigidly attached thereto an armI52 which extends back and upward and carries at its upper end a sheetmetal flag I53, which is pivoted thereto. This metal flag I53 is adaptedto cover and uncover the coin aperture I5 in the sleeve I3 of theenclosing case (see Fig. 1), and, also, the coin aperture 86 in thepanel 12.

This mechanism operates as follows. Assume that the apparatus containsonly two balls of confection and that the plate I33 is in the positionin which it is shown in Fig. 6. One of the two balls will lie in theextruded hole I31 in the plate I33 being supported on the projectionI38, and the other ball will rest either on top of the first one or onthe surface of plate I33.

Pressing the plunger i 9 moves the plate 533 back to deliver the firstball into the pocket 23, and

engages the .catch 'I'I'B which retains the plate I33 in its backposition.

The cam I50 will have released the wire feeler I5I, but the wire I5Iwill rest on the one remaining ball, which, in turn, rests on thesurface of plate I33. Therefore, the flag I53 will leave the coinopening unobstructed.

The insertion of a coin and the operation of the machine by means ofhandle it releases the catch US so that the plate I33 again moves foriWard and permits the one remaining ball to drop into the extrudedopening in the plate I33 where it rests on the projection I38. Theplunger I3 again may be pressed to deliver the last ball into the pocket29. When the cam I50 releases the wire I5I, as the plate moves back andengages the catch II i, the wire I5I drops to a low position in thepassage in the casting I32 and moves the flag I53 over the coin openings33 and 55 so as to prevent any further coins from being inserted intothe machine.

The operation of the complete apparatus is as follows: Assuming that theconfection hopper contains a supply of the confection in the form ofballs or the like, so that the coin openings are unobstructed, a coinmay be inserted into the machine by pressing it into the hollow of thecasting I4 from which it drops through the slots I5 and 33 into thespace between the end of the slide I8 and the projection 83 carried bythe slide 11. The hand lever I8 may be depressed to operate the machine.The initial motion thereof operates the switch I21, turns on the lightI25 to illuminate the interior of the machine to aid the view hadthereof by the player. As the lever I8 moves downward, the link 33 takesup the slack provided by its slot and then actuates the lever 94.

The cam 95 of the lever 94 moves away from the arm I36 of the chute IIHso as to open the same and permit any coin therein to drop into the coinbox I22. Continued motion of the hand lever I8 drives the slide I? tothe right (Figs. 8 and 9), and because of the presence of the coin,also, drives the slide I8 toward the right to disengage the latch piece46 from the slot 45 in the spreader 39 of the snap mechanism.Subsequently, or at about the same time, the coin comes into registerwith the opening between the channel containing the slides TI and I8 andthe coin trap 9I so that it is ejected into the trap ill where it restson the pin 93. During the entire motion'of the hand lever I8 the springs43 and 44 have been lengthening and the line of action of the springs(the line through the center of the pins '3? and 30) has beenapproaching the axis of shaft 3!. Subsequent to the discharge of thecoin into the trap 9i the arm 32 of the snap mechanism snaps down to itslower position where it stops against the boss 33, and in so doing setsthe wheel 30 into motion in the manner already described.

The arm 32 in moving to its lower position, also, has moved the arm I II to the right as seen in Fig. 3 so as to perform the followingoperations: (1) The catch I20 has been brought into position to blockthe lever 83 so as to prevent the return of the slide TI to its normalposition in which it could receive another coin; (2) the arm 89 haswithdrawn the pin 90 from the coin. trap SI, and in so doing has engagedthe arm I05 of the chute IM to close the chute by moving it against thepanel I2. This has permitted the coin to drop into position where it maybe viewed easily in the opening I02; (3) the arm I45 has thrown theweight I46 against the catch IIB to lift the same so as to release theplate I33 to permit it to move into its forward position so that theplunger I9 again may be pressed to deliver one of the balls into thepocket 20.

The wheel 30 which has been set into motion by the snap mechanism spinsfreely and eventually comes to a random stop with the dog 61 carried bythe weight 60 seated in one of the notches 68 and the notched wheel 69.This brings one of the characters of the design on the periphery of thewheel 30 squarely registered in the opening I0 to indicate the randomselection of the machine. This takes place automatically regardless ofwhether or not the player permits the lever I8 to return to its normalposition, and the stopping of the wheel 30 may take place either beforeor after the hand lever I8 is permitted to return. As the player permitsthe hand lever I8 to rise, the lever 94 moves under force of its springback to its normal position so that the cam 95 engages the arm I06 ofthe chute IOI to hold it in its closed position. The catch I20 continuesto hold the lever and the slide II in their extreme right position asviewed in Figs. 8 and 9. When the lever I8 has substantially completedits return motion, the line of action of the springs between the pins 31and 40 again crosses the axis of the shaft 3| so that the arm 32 snapsback to its normal or upper position where it stops against the boss 35.In so doing it permits the arm III to return to its normal position.This rotates the shaft IIO to accomplish the following: (1) The catchI20 releases the arm 80 so that the slide 11 snaps back under the forceof its spring BI to its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 8;(2)- the arm 89 moves the pin 90 into the coin trap 9|. While the arm 89moves away from the arm of the chute IOI, the chute does not openbecause it is held by the cam of the arm 94. The action of the arm 32 insnapping to its normal or upper position does not rotate the wheel 30because the over-running clutch does not permit the arm 32 to drive thewheel in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The finalmotion of the hand lever I8 to its normal position causes the cam I28 toride off the switch I26 so as to open the circuit to the lamp I25.

The hand lever I8 now may be depressed slightly to turn on the light I25to provide a good view of the coin and of the exposed and registeredcharacter on the periphery of the wheel 30. The hand lever I8, also, maybe depressed a considerable portion of its stroke so as to actuate thelever 94 so that the cam 95 releases the arm I06 to open the chute IOIand drop the coin from its position behind the opening I02 in the panelI2 into the coin box I22. This operation of the hand lever I8 does notcause the wheel to spin because since no coin has been inserted into thespace between the end of the slide I8 and the projection 83 on the slide11, the latch piece 46 will continue to engage the notch 45 in thespreader 39 so as to prevent the operation of the arm 32 in the manneralready described.

While I have shown and described a single specific embodiment of mypresent invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe same is by way of illustration only, and that the invention iscapable of numerous modifications and variations. Therefore, I do notwish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, an enclosingcase having an aperture therein adapted to receive a coin, said caseincluding means for permitting a view of the interior of said case, ahandle on the exterior of the case, coin controlled means within saidcase adapted to receive said coin from said aperture, a wheel withinsaid case, means operated by said handle under control of said coincontrolled means for spinning said wheel, means for providing aplurality of registered positions of said wheel and for stopping saidwheel in one of said positions at random, an index, said wheel having adisplay comprising a plurality of characters thereon each one of whichcharacters registers with said index at some registered position of saidwheel, said index and the character in register therewith being exposedto view from the exterior of said case, means including said coincontrolled means operated by said handle when said wheel is spun formoving said coin into an exposed position near said index and thecharacter registered therewith so that said character and coin may beviewed together, means operated by said handle independently of anycontrol by said coin controlled means and irrespective of the operationof said wheel for removing said coin from view, means comprising anelectric light for illuminating said coin in said exposed position andfor illuminating the character which is in register with said index, abattery for said light, and a switch operated by said handle forconnecting said light to said battery and disconnecting it therefrom.

2. In combination in a device of the class described, an enclosing casehaving an aperture adapted to receive a coin or the like, said caseincluding means permitting a view of the interior thereof, said caseincluding a compartment for the storage and accumulation of coins andthe like, a handle on the exterior of said case, coin controlled meanswithin said case adapted to receive a coin from said aperture, apparatuswithin said case adapted to be operated by said handle under control ofsaid coin controlled means, means adapted to receive a coin from saidcoin controlled means when said apparatus is actuated by said lever andthereupon to expose said coin to view from the exterior of said case,means operated by said handle independently of any control of said coincontrolled means for removing said coin from view and depositing it insaid. compartment.

3. In combination in a device of the class described, an enclosing casehaving an aperture adapted to receive a coin or the like, said caseincluding means permitting a View of the interior thereof, said casealso including a compartment for the storage and accumulation of coinsand the like, a handle on the exterior of said case, coin controlledmeans within said case adapted to receive a coin from said aperture,apparatus within said case adapted to be operated by said handle undercontrol of said coin controlled means, means adapted to receive a coinfrom said coin controlled means when said apparatus is actuated by saidlever and thereupon to expose said coin to view from the exterior ofsaid case, means operated by said handle independently of any control bysaid coin controlled means for removing said coin from view anddepositing it in said compartment, a lens for magnifying the View of acoin exposed to view as aforesaid, an electric lamp for illuminating acoin exposed to View as aforesaid, a battery for operating said lamp,and a switch operated by said handle to turn on said lamp when saidapparatus is actuated and when said coin is removed from view.

4. In combination in an apparatus of the class described, an enclosingcase having an aperture adapted to receive coins or the like, said caseincluding first means for permitting a View of the interior thereof, ahandle on the exterior of said case, apparatus within said case adaptedto be opera-ted by said handle, second means adapted to receive coinsfrom said aperture and operable by said handle to expose said coins toview from the exterior of said case and then to remove them from view,said handle being operable to operate said apparatus each time a newcoin is exposed to view and actuate said second means for removing acoin from view each time said apparatus is operated, said handle beingat all times operable to remove a coin from view regardless of whetheror not a new coin is exposed to View thereby.

5. A device as defined in the immediately preceding claim wherein saidsecond means includes coin controlled means for compelling a new coin tobe exposed to view each time said apparatus is operated.

6. In combination in a device of the class described, an enclosing casehaving an aperture adapted to receive coins or the like, said caseincluding first means permitting a view of the interior thereof, ahandle on the exterior of said case, apparatus within said case adaptedto be operated by said handle, second means adapted to receive coinsfrom said aperture and including coin controlled means operated by saidhandle to display coins, said second means including also third meansfor removing said coins from view, said handle being operable to operatesaid apparatus each time a new coin is exposed to view and to actuatesaid third means each time said apparatus is operated, an electric lampadapted to illuminate a coin while on display and meanscontrolled bysaid handle for energizing said lamp each time said handle is actuatedregardless of whether or not a new coin is exposed to view thereby, saidlast named means being operable normally to deenergize said lamp.

ARCHIE J. MCMASTER.

